OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which Lichong Xiaozheng Granules (LCXZ) sensitize ovarian cancer to cisplatin (DDP) treatment. METHODS: LC-MS analysis was used to identify the blood components of LCXZ after its administration in mice via gavage. In a BALB/c mouse model bearing subcutaneous ovarian cancer xenografts, the effects of daily gavage of distilled water (control group), intraperitoneal injection of DDP (5 mg/kg) once a week, or both DDP injection and daily LCXZK gavage (15 g/kg) on tumor growth were evaluated. Histopathological changes in the xenografts and kidneys were assessed with HE staining. RNA-seq was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes followed by KEGG pathway analysis. The changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure and expressions of mitochondrial apoptosis-related were examined with transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting. RESULTS: A total of 218 blood-borne components of LCXZ were detected by LC-MS. In the tumor-bearing mice, treatments with DDP and DDP combined with LCXZ redcued the tumor volume by 60.3% and 72.6% compared with that in the control group, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significantly upregulated ANT3 expression in both the two treatment groups. Molecular docking indicated that the main active components of LCXZ were capable of binding to adenine nucleotide translocator 3 (ANT3) with binding energies below -6 kcal/mol. Transmission electron microscopy showed obvious mitochondrial swelling and outer-membrane damage in the tumor cells in DDP-treated mice, and these changes were more pronounced in the combined treatment group. The expression levels of BAX, ANT3, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were increased, whereas BCL-2 expression was decreased significantly in the tumor cells in both the DDP and DDP+LCXZ groups. CONCLUSIONS LCXZ enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin against ovarian cancer xenografts in mice by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction and activating apoptotic signaling pathways via upregulating ANT3.
Animals ; Female ; Cisplatin/pharmacology* ; Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice ; Rats ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of the caudal block and Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) for transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy.Methods 60 elderly patients with transrectal ultrasound guided transperineal prostate biopsy were randomized into Group A and Group B.Patients in Group A received ultrasound guided caudal block (0.33％ ropivacaine 15 ml) and patients in Group B received TIVA.In operation room (T1),immediately before operation (T2) and at the end of operation (T3),mean artery pressure (MAP),heart rate (HR),breathing rate (BR) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded.The patients in two groups were rated the level of mini-mental state examination (MMES) at 2 h,8 h and 24 h after operation.Complications during the whole study period were also evaluated.Results The values of MAP,HR and BR of T1 in group B were significantly lower than those at T2 (P＜0.05),and were lower than those in the group A (P ＜0.05).The MMSE value in group A [2 h (25.66 ± 1.71) and 8 h (26.13 ± 1.52)] was significantly higher than that in group B [2 h (27.96 ± 1.71) and 8 h (29.01 ± 0.77)] at after operation (P ＜ 0.05).The rate of usage of ephedrine (13％) and assisted ventilation (20％) in group B was higher.No significant differences were detected in side effects between the two groups.Conclusions Caudal block provides better anesthesia than TIVA for TRUS guided prostate biopsy without an increase of side effects,and it may be safely used during ambulatory surgery.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of suctioning flexible ureteroscopy with automatic control of renal pelvic pressure in the treament of intrarenal and proximal ureteral stones.Methods From November 2014 to December 2016,a total of 372 patients,including 200 males and 172 females,with upper urinary tract calculi were studied.The average age of patients was 48.1 years old.The average size of stone was 5-35mm,mean 15.7mm.There were 272 cases of renal calculi,80 cases of ureteral calculi and 20 cases of renal calculi combined with ureteral calculi.There were 252 cases of single calculi and 127 cases of multiple calculi.There were 237 cases of urinary tract infection and 14 cases of bacteremia.All patients were treated by suctioning fiexible uretemscopy with automatic control of renal pelvic pressure by a patented intelligent system including an irrigation and suctioning platform and a ureteral access sheath with a pressuresensitive tip.Statistical analysis was performed regarding renal pelvic pressure,operative time,stone-free rates,and complications.Results Three hundred and thirty of 372 patients only accepted one surgery to remove the stone.There were 12 cases of upper ureteral calculi were converted to ureteroscope lithotripsy.Seventeen cases were converted to percutaneous nephrolithotomy due to significant ureteral stenosis.Seven cases who failed the first surgery due to difficulty in placing the ureteral access sheath but flexible ureteroscopy were successfully performed in these patients after indwelling a D-J stent for 2 weeks.No stone was found in 6 cases,and the soft endoscope of ureter was examined.In all patients,the renal pelvic pressure of the pelvis was controlled within 20 mmHg.The average operative time was 15-180 min(mean 58.9 min).The stone-free rates was 95.55％ (322/337),the incidence of postoperative fever was 2.97％ (10/337),the sepsis rate was 1.19％ (4/337),the incidence of urinary sepsis was 0.89％ (3/337),the incidence of lumbago caused by extravasation was 0.59％ (2/337),and no peripheral viscera injury or death case.There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative white and red blood cells (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions This new type of suctioning flexible ureteroscopy with intelligent pressure-control has the advantages of perfusion attraction,pressure feedback,intelligent control and visualization of intracavity pressure.It could be a new type of operation with high safety,low complication and high stone free rate.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intelligent pressure control flexible ureteroscope for management of renal stones ≤2 cm. Methods: The clinical data of 267 cases of renal calculi treated with flexible ureteroscope lithotripsy at Department of Urology, Ganzhou People′s Hospital from June 2015 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 129 male and 138 female patients, with a mean age of 51.2 years (ranging from 19 to 76 years). Among them, 145 patients underwent intelligent pressure control flexible ureteroscope (intelligent control group) and 122 patients underwent flexible ureteroscope ordinary (ordinary group). The t test, χ² test or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. The success rate of stone seeking, the stone free rates, the incidence of complications, the average operation time, the average hospital stay after operation were compared between the two groups. Results: The average mean operative time of the patients with intelligent control group was (26.17 ± 8.64) minutes, significantly shorter than (47.23±18.35) minutes of the ordinary group (t=1.968, P=0.000). The stone free rate of the patients with intelligent control group was 97.2%, it was higher than 86.0% of ordinary group (χ²=0.069, P=0.004). The complication rate of the patients with intelligent control group was 2.7%, which was significantly shorter than 18.0% of the ordinary group (χ²=17.586, P=0.000). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the success rate of stone seeking and postoperative hospital stay (P>0.05). Conclusion Intelligent controlled pressure ureteral flexible ureteroscope has the advantages of short operation time, high stone free rate and less complications in the treatment of renal calculi ≤2 cm compared with flexible ureteroscope ordinary.